River Valley High softball relied on a complete game from sophomore starter Apple Ward and got some late-game heroics from the order to take round one in the Foothill Valley League with rival Yuba City on YC’s field, 4-2, on Thursday.

The Sac-Joaquin Section Division III No. 5-ranked Falcons move to 13-4 overall and 4-2 in the FVL heading into its spring break. RV, in third place right now in league, does not play again until April 14 at home against Placer (4-7, 1-4 FVL). Yuba City is right back on the diamond for the conclusion of the St. Mary’s, Stockton, tournament today (Saturday) to face what YC head coach Patty Gates says will be solid competition against a boatload of Division II- and III teams.

“We’re looking to continue to compete against teams that are going to challenge us,” Gates said.

Right now, Gates said it is about helping the team find its swing again.

“Our bats didn’t do anything; they let Apple (Ward’s) outside pitching get to them,” Gates said. “We are a better hitting team than what we showed today. We thought we prepared, but when they got in there they watched too many pitches; we got to attack early.”

YC (9-8, 3-2), which dropped to eighth in the latest MaxPreps’ Sac-Joaquin Section D-IV poll, led its rival early, thanks to a two-run blast from Chloe Gonzales in the first. RV would equalize with a run in the third and fifth inning before striking again in the sixth when Kaitlyn Garcia laced a two-out single to left to put the Falcons in front for good.

“The team, as a whole, is doing really good having each other’s backs, hitting one through nine passing the bat through it,” said RV head coach Taylor Pack, who played and won a national title while at UCLA. “Then Apple, today, really was able to command the zone (with) good location of her pitches … She’s grown a lot from last year and is getting better and better.” 

In the circle, Ward, a lefty, struck out 11 over seven innings to earn her seventh win of the season.

Gates, who does not see many lefties in the circle, said Ward’s location outside was pinpoint all day.

“Outside is usually one of the toughest ones to hit, especially with a lefty pitcher with the spin,” Gates said. 

Maddison Stead, also a sophomore, went the distance for YC, but allowed three earned on 11 hits while striking out eight to earn the loss. Stead is 7-2 with a 3.61 ERA.

The Honkers return to FVL action April 13 at Twelve Bridges (2-15, 1-3). YC heads over to RV to close-out the regular season on May 5.